March 12, 2024

Kilmer Secures Millions in New Federal Funding for Kitsap County

Community Project Funding Will Support Road Safety, Affordable Housing

KITSAP COUNTY, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that he secured more than $4.6 million in new federal funding to support community projects in Kitsap County. The funding was passed with bipartisan support in the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Biden. The funding includes:

  • $4,116,279 for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s SR 3 Gorst Area Resiliency Project
  • $500,000 for Kitsap Community Resources’ Mills Crossing Housing Project

Washington State Department of Transportation’s SR 3 Gorst Area Resiliency Project

The WSDOT SR 3 Gorst Area Resiliency Project will receive $4,116,279. The transportation project aims to alleviate severe traffic congestion, improve safety, enhance resiliency against sea level rise and seismic events, and reduce environmental impacts on the Gorst Corridor ecosystem. The project is essential for supporting vital national security objectives and fostering economic vitality. The funding is intended to be utilized to conduct preliminary engineering, environmental impact statement work, a cultural resources study, and a resilience study.

The Gorst Area Resiliency Project aims to enhance mobility and connectivity for various transportation modes, improve corridor and ecosystem resiliency, and support economic growth through the efficient movement of people and goods. The project will also provide faster access to emergency medical services, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure the smooth movement of employees and equipment for nearly 34,000 Navy and civilian personnel at nearby installations. The project is expected to create thousands of long-term jobs, further supporting the local economy and community development.

“The transportation project in the Gorst Corridor is not just a solution to traffic woes – it’s a multifaceted strategy to enhance safety, resilience, and environmental stewardship, crucial for national security and economic growth,” said Rep. Kilmer. “This federal investment promises improved mobility, reduced emissions, and vital support for our military and civilian workforce. Plus, addressing this longstanding bottleneck will have far-reaching benefits, including job creation and sustainable community development. And with federal support for this effort, it means costs won’t solely be borne by taxpayers in Kitsap County. That means it’s a win for jobs, a win for resiliency, a win for safety, and a win for taxpayer!”

“Our community needs this work underway as soon as possible and I thank Congressman Kilmer for appreciating the threat the Gorst bottleneck poses to the safe movement of people and goods,” said Greg Wheeler, Mayor, City of Bremerton. “It took a collection of elected and community leaders to get us here and I look forward to continuing this effort until we have our fix.”

Kitsap Community Resources’ Mills Crossing Housing Project

Kitsap Community Resources (KCR) will receive $500,000 for the Mills Crossing Housing Project – which is a key part of the region’s effort to address the housing shortage in Kitsap County.

Mills Crossing will provide much-needed housing for the county’s most vulnerable citizens, with units transitioning to low-income, permanent supportive housing, and/or affordable housing units as existing leases expire, or residents move. With the support of Kitsap County, the Bremerton Housing Authority, and KCR, this project will serve as a testament to the power of collaboration under the Kitsap County Housing Task Force umbrella, addressing the region's housing crisis and providing economic sustainability for both the project and its residents.

“Our region needs more housing that people can afford. KCR’s acquisition of Mills Crossing is a game-changer for Kitsap County, directly addressing the critical need for affordable housing,” said Rep. Kilmer. “This initiative not only provides a lifeline to our most vulnerable citizens but also stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through community collaboration and strategic partnerships. The project and this new federal investment represent a forward-thinking approach to solving our housing crisis while fostering economic stability for the Kitsap community and its residents.”

“The Kitsap County Affordable Housing Task Force has identified that Kitsap County needs 24,000 additional units of housing by 2044,” said Tony Ives, Executive Director, Kitsap Community Resources. “The purchase of Mills Crossing with 36 townhomes represents the first of several housing initiatives already identified by this highly diverse and proactive team!”

“Through the collaboration and intense focus on the affordable housing needs in Kitsap County, our task force has achieved adding 36 units of affordable housing to our community and pooled resources to ensure long-term operational sustainability through the use of HUD federally funded Project Based Vouchers provided through the Bremerton Housing Authority,” said Jill Stanton, Executive Director, Bremerton Housing Authority. “This type of intentional partnering to identify needs, provide resources, and add a continuous stream of units to our affordable housing stock responds to the growing affordable housing crisis in an effective and responsible manner as we care for our most vulnerable neighbors through housing.”

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